Program-indicator.



I. H. ROGHPORD,

PROGRAM INDICATOR. APPLICATION FILED DEC. 30, 1910.

1,057,670. Patented Apr. 1, 1913.

FIG.

TURNS TURN OVER NW N THOMAS HENRY ROCKFORD, OF DUBLIN, IRELAND.

PRO GRAM-INDICATOR.

T 0 all whom it may concern Be it known that I, THOMAS HENRY Roonronn, a subject of the King of Great Britain, and a resident of Dublin, Ireland, whose post-office address is 19 lVellington Quay, Dublin, Ireland.) haveinvented an Improvement in Program-Indicators, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to program indicators particularly adapted for use in theaters of varieties, music halls, and the like, and comprises an indicator board or frame, having an opening or openings for showing a number (to which it refers) on the program, indicating what artist or turn is next to be presented, and also openings for displaying the numbers of those artistes or turns whose performances are over, (or alternatively, whose turns are still to come). These openings are respectively designated Turn now on and Turns over or by any other suitable indication. IVhen a particular turn is done, the number that indicated it disappears from the Turn now on position and re-appears in one of the openings belonging to the Turns over. The latter accumulate one by one as each turn succeeds another, while the number of the Turn now on is made to correspond singly to the item then being (or about to be) presented.

The openingsin which appear the movable members carrying the numbers, are occupied by numbers which can be illuminated or obscured at will. In its preferred form, the numbers are marked on transparent or opaque material, fixed in the openings, and illuminated, when required, by electric lamps (other kinds of illumination may be substituted), either placed behind the numbers (in the position heretofore occupied by the movable numbers), or in front of them. The turns that have taken place are preferably illuminated in one color, and the one that is on by another.

In the drawings, forming a part of this specification :-Figure 1 is an elevation showing a device embodying my invention, parts being broken away to disclose details. Fig. 2 shows part of a switchboard suitable for the device, from which the electric lamps can be controlled.

carrying the numbers may be of the nature Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed December 30, 1910.

Patented Apr. 1, 1913.

Serial No. 600,052.

of transparencies, stencils, or the like with white opal, glass or other suitable fronts, decorated as desired.

Fig. 1 represents an indicator composed of two columns of numbers B, C, each number being duplicated. An electric lamp 1 is fixed behind each number. Each Turn now on number such as D, may be colored, if desired, the Turns over numbers such as E being White or a different color. Either the electric lamp bulbs may be colored or colored stencil numbers may be used, and white lamps (or lamps of a different color) used behind them. The signs Turns over and Turn now on are lighted from the back in the same coloring as the numbers to which they appertain. The indicator board represented in this figure shows Nos. 4, 10, 12 as white light numbers, signifying the turns that are over. The number 11 shows the turn which is now on, and upon the conclusion of which, its number will be switched off from that column and switched on in the other column headed Turns over. This is done by a two-way switch, such as one of those illustrated diagrammatically in Fig. 2, where F in each case represents the switch arm and G and H the two contacts, one connected to the particular number in the Turn now on column and the other to the same number in the Turns over column. A stop K is provided for the switch to rest against until the turn is on Each-pair of numbers or lamps is controlled by one of these switches, the same switch being made to serve both sides of the stage, where the indicators are situated. The openings for the numbers may nevertheless be arranged in any convenient position at the sides, top, or bottom of the proscenium, and their number varies according to requirement.

The switch board (Fig. 2) is fitted up in a suitable place, preferably beside the limelight operator or electrician and worked by him. The lamps on each side of the stage are all properly worked and controlled from this one switch board.

My invention is suitable for use where the kind of illumination (0. g. electricity or gas) can be controlled from a distance without necessity of access to the burner or the like to relight it each time after it is obscured.

Changes may be made in details without departing from the spirit or scope of my invention; but

I claim:

In an illuminated programindicator, the combination of a first set of visual characters independent of each other, electric illuminating means lfor each of said characters, a complementary set of visual characters, independent of each other, for said first mentioned set of visual characters, second electric illuminating means for each of said characters of said complementary set, a two-way switch for the illuminating means of each pair of complementary characters of the sets, whereby the characters of the first set may be illuminated, or the illumination transferred to the complementary characters of said second mentioned set, means for indicating that the glowing character of said first set designates the act being performed, and second means for indicating that the glowing character or characters, of the second set designate the act or acts, respectively, having been performed.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

THOMAS HENRY ROCHFORD.

Witnesses:

K. H. KING,

(,7. T. CLARKE. 

